Reviewed By Dr. Jodi Kuhn
Reading time: 3 minutes
A tooth infection can cause more than localized dental pain. In some cases, infection and inflammation may lead to headaches, dizziness, facial pressure, or radiating discomfort. Understanding the connection helps determine when dental care is needed.
We provide dental care for the whole family at our offices in Denver, Aurora, Thornton, and Hampden. We proudly accept Medicaid and make quality dental care accessible for every child.
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Dental and Vision Care in One Convenient Location
At our Denver and Aurora locations, Youth Dentistry & Orthodontics and Youth Vision are conveniently located in the same building. This means your child can receive both dental and vision care at one familiar location, without extra travel or scheduling stress.
Why Dental Infections Can Cause Headaches
A tooth infection can trigger headaches because inflammation and pressure inside the tooth irritate nearby nerve pathways. When bacteria infect the pulp, pressure builds within the confined space of the tooth. That inflammation can stimulate surrounding nerves and cause pain to radiate into the head.
The upper and lower teeth connect to branches of the trigeminal nerve, which supplies sensation to the face and scalp. When infection activates these nerve pathways, pain may present as:
- One-sided head pain
- Pressure behind the eyes
- Facial tenderness
- Jaw discomfort
Infections in upper molars may also affect the maxillary sinuses. This can create sinus pressure that feels like a headache rather than isolated dental pain.
What Does a Headache From a Dental Infection Feel Like?
A headache caused by a dental infection is usually deep, throbbing, and localized to one side of the head. The pain often starts near the infected tooth and radiates upward into the temple, jaw, or behind the eye.
Unlike tension headaches, this pain tends to worsen with chewing, biting, or touching the affected tooth. It may feel like steady pressure or pulsing pain that does not fully resolve with typical over the counter pain medication.
As infection progresses, the headache can become more constant and more intense. It is often accompanied by tenderness in the jaw, facial pressure, or swelling on the same side as the infected tooth.
Can a Toothache Cause Dizziness?
In some cases, yes. Dizziness is less common but may occur if infection becomes more advanced or systemic.
You may notice:
- Lightheadedness
- Fatigue
- Fever
- Increased swelling
Dizziness combined with fever or facial swelling requires urgent evaluation. These symptoms may indicate that infection is spreading beyond the tooth.
How Tooth Infections Are Treated
Headaches caused by a tooth infection improve once the source of infection is eliminated. Treatment focuses on removing bacteria and relieving pressure inside the tooth.
This may involve:
- Root canal therapy to remove infected pulp
- Drainage of an abscess
- Tooth extraction if the tooth cannot be saved
- Antibiotics if infection has spread
At Youth Dentistry & Orthodontics, we evaluate dental infections promptly to identify the source of pain and prevent spread. Early treatment reduces pressure on surrounding nerves and helps resolve related symptoms such as headache and facial discomfort.
When to Seek Immediate Care
If you have difficulty breathing, trouble swallowing, or rapidly increasing facial swelling, go to the nearest emergency room immediately or call 911.
For urgent dental concerns that are not life threatening, Youth Dentistry & Orthodontics offers a 24-hour emergency line at (303) 886-0699.
Dentist in Denver, CO
If you are experiencing headaches along with dental pain, schedule a dental exam at Youth Dentistry & Orthodontics in Denver or at the location nearest you. For our Denver location, call (303) 825-2295 or visit us at 1400 Grove Street, Denver, CO 80204
Other locations:
📍Aurora Youth Dentistry and Orthodontics: 14251 E. 6th Avenue, Aurora, CO 80011 | (303) 343-3133
📍Thornton Youth Dentistry and Orthodontics: 550 E. Thornton Parkway, Suite 240A, Thornton, CO 80229 | (303) 280-8878
📍Hampden Youth Dentistry and Orthodontics: 7400 East Hampden Ave. Unit C1, Denver, CO 80231 | (720) 826-3694
FAQs
What can I take for tooth pain?
discomfort temporarily. Always follow the dosing instructions on the product label and avoid exceeding the recommended amount. These medications do not treat the infection itself, so a dental evaluation is necessary to eliminate the source of pain and prevent the infection from worsening.
Will treating the tooth infection stop the headache?
In most cases, yes. Eliminating the source of infection through appropriate dental treatment typically resolves referred head pain and reduces pressure on surrounding nerve pathways.
Can a tooth infection cause dizziness without pain?
Dizziness alone is uncommon. Most dental problems involving infection also produce tooth or facial pain. If dizziness occurs alongside other symptoms, professional evaluation is recommended to protect your oral health and overall wellbeing.
